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Unruly board members try to disrupt condo association meetings

Posted on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 @ 09:49 AM
  
  
  
  
We have a problem with previous board members that try to disrupt our meetings with the homeowners. We are very new to the condo association board and all of us volunteered to run because of the disgraceful way that meetings and business was run by previous board members. Meetings consisted of bullying homeowners, disrespectful behavior on the part of these past directors. A common comment was "Shut up and sit down" at every meeting. Homeowners would walk out in disgust. The attendance at these monthly meetings was less than 20 and we have over 180 units. The only time attendance is at full is at the annual meeting since elections and budgets are discussed. We were a totally new board except for 3 members and these 3 were kept out of any meetings that the previous board had. Well last year they decided not to run figuring that we would fall on our faces and they would just come in and pick up the pieces. That did not happen. From the very first meeting in January until now, homeowner attendance has increased from 20.  In the summer there is less than one third present, to over 100. The average attendance is around 75 every month. Previously it was less than 20. We report only facts, work in progress, thins that need to be done, security issues, etc and homeowners are allowed to ask questions at the end of the meeting. Yet, previous board members try to rile people against us. They try to make comments while the meeting is in progress. The meetings are basically kept in order, but their riling also brings negative comments from other homeowners and not against us, but against them. Fortunately their tactics only manage to increase our popularity as people can see through their little games. We have had so many positive feedback with the only negative coming from previous board members. The question is: Can we legally do anything to stop this harassment? Another type of harassment from these people, has been to send us letters every so often asking for copies and bids on file together with all the work orders by our maintenance staff. We have raised the cost per copy to 25 cents, in an effort to prevent useless requests. But their interference has cost us valuable time. In the firs year alone and the year has not ended, we managed to save over $40,000 in the budget. Cost cutting measures and looking at every expenditure carefully has resulted in this saving. There are a lot of projects that we have initiated that will result in further savings. Some of these projects cannot be fulfilled until the new year due to money constraints and as you know the statute on reserves etc has to be abided. We cannot just take money form where ever to meet a short fall some where else. In my opinion, these rabble-rousers do not care for the homeowners and are interfering with our work. What can be done about this?

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COMMENTS

First, it sounds like you are doing a great job! Congratulations for coming forward and taking your association back from the bullies! I am a community manager and I want to encourage you to hang in there. I also want to give you straight and accurate advice. You are required to provide contracts to homeowners when they are requested, however the request must be in writing and you have 10 days to provide the information. In order to control the meetings you may want to clearly establish your homeowner's forum which typically takes place at the beginning of the meeting. Using a sign up sheet each member of the association is given a maximum of three minutes to address the board with their particular questions or concerns. As board members you are not required to specifically answer questions however you're certainly welcomed to do so if questions are sincere and the matter is not terribly compicated. You take note of the questions and advise you will get back to the individual(s.) Once all residents on the list have had a chance to address the board, you close the forum and open your meeting for business. Any resident who wishes to stay and observe and listen to your meeting is welcomed to do so however once your meeting officially opens there is no more interaction or discussion with the residents. Period. Should a resident interupt any of you or try to disrupt your meeting, you must advise them they are out of order and remind them they are welcomed to observe however they are not allowed to participate in the meeting. If they continue to be disruptive you can ask them to leave. If they don't you have the right to fine them (look at your bylaws)and have them physically removed by force. The removal by force is extreme however we have actually had to have, in some cases, a policeman present during meetings for just this purpose. It sounds like your meeting, in an effort to be open and responsive to your residents, have strayed from how they need to be conducted...your board must conduct business within the board only and then transparently report, in the minutes and the newsletter, what is happening. Also, keep in mind, any/all residents are welcomed to listen and observe and stay for the entire meeting however they cannot become part of the board by participating within the board meeting itself. I believe if you establish the homeowner forum and refrain from allowing residents to participated in your actual board meeting you will regain control and send a strong message to ALL residents that you are going to comply with business rules and your bylaws, both of which advise you how you are must conduct your meetings.

posted @ Monday, October 25, 2010 10:25 AM by Pamela


We have over 350 owners. A group numbering 20-30 constantly interrupts meetings with comments. 2 directors are leading this group. The directors make false Points of Order and Points of Personal Privilege into order to delay and make real action almost impossible. I have attempted all manner of compromise and conciliation. Nothing has worked. They insist on calling the majority of the Board incompetents or even crooks. Ironically my Board has competence and one of us has been in the contracting business at the highest level in the US. Another ran a firm dealing with 50MM and up contracts. I, myself, have almost forty years of business experience. All of us want only the best for the condominium. But this group, without experience, led by a power hungry individual demands that we move aside.  
I understand your problem. You're not the only ones.

posted @ Monday, October 25, 2010 1:42 PM by michael e katz


Have a police presence, this always helps and eventually they won't bother anymore

posted @ Monday, October 25, 2010 2:52 PM by Jose E. Humaran


We have had a very similar situation in our homeowners association. One Director pulling the strings, had weak directors supporting him. Well, he had good training as a union negotiator and knew how to influence people. Finally he was voted out of office but now he is trying to throw dirt at us. 
I like the comments of the above very much and appreciate to have a sergeant of arms or policeman at a meeting

posted @ Friday, October 29, 2010 5:47 PM by Walter Kuhlmann


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